Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-12-29
SMITH N
They Meet In France and Fight Over
One Hundred and Six Rounds to a


The International contest between Jake
Kiirain of Baltimore and Jem Smith OF
England, for the diamond belt and the
championship OF the world, took place on
the Island of st. Pierre. in the river Seine,
France, on the 10Th in the presence OF
about 100 persons. There was no police
interference. G. w. Atkinson. the referee,
performed his duties W 18th satisfaction to all
concerned. Jem Smith was seconded by
Jack Baldeck and Jack Harper, and was
attended by Jem Howes and Dick Rob
erts. Kilrain was cor by Charley
Mitchell and Ned Donnelly and was
attended by Charles Rowell. Messrs.
Fleming and Harding acted as tirnekeep-
ers and umpires. The fight was remarka-
BILE for the persistent wrestling of the
men. In the fourth round Smith was
knocked nearly silly by d terrific smack on
the ear. Though Smith had the worst OF
the falls. he fought ~splendidly under great
difficulties, int was as fresh as kilrain
when darkness stopped the fight, at 4:4o.
One hundred and six rounds were fought,
lasting two and a hall hours. The party
left the Paris-Rouen train at the village OF
Borsbiers, whence they trampled across
muddy fields and marshy lands to
the river, where there was a steam launch
lying alongside the bank. The party in
cluded Lord De Clifford, the marquis OF
Queensbury; Sir Hugh Drummond, Hon.
Mr.. Sandes and Capt. Lee Barber. The
launch took allhands on board and steam
ed to the scene selected for the fight. There
great difficulty was experienced in getting
q good site for the ring IN account OF the
deep mud. Eventually an excellent ring was
pitched. Kilrain fought at s pounds
and Smith at $50 pounds, a heavier weight
than he has fought at heretofore. Smiths
caster was thrown into the ring and was
Immediately followed by Kilrain's beaver.
The fight commenced at 2:10 p. m. 1t was
a lively and energetic battle for the three
first r~ounds-quick give and take with
close sparring. In the fourth round
Kilraia got in, giving Smith a smash
on the ear winch appeared to stun him.. In
the wrestling, which formed a feature OF a
number OF succeeding rounds, Smith was
no match for the American. He had the
worst OF every fall, Kilrain each time COM
ing down heavily on his FRUSTRATED form.
The fight was declared a draw. Up to the
ninetieth round Kilrain held the advantage
and had knocked Smith down three times.
while Smith had only once succeeded in
knocking Kilrain down.. One hundred
rounds had been fought in one hour and
forty minutes. Both men, however. kept
strong on their legs The light was now
fast fading and the cold bitter. Smiths
seconds repeatedly urged that the
timekeepers could not see their watches,
nor the referee II q foul were COM
mitted. Smith come marvelously in the
last six rounds, but Kilrain was always
game, cool aud collected. In the one hun
bred and sixth, and last round. both
were fighting as quickly as at the start, when
Mr.. Atkinson ordered an adjournment of
the contest until the next day amid loud
CHEERS. the spectators being delighted with
the pluck shown by both men. just as
the lighting ceased snow began to fall.
In Sullivan's opinion, to-day's fight was
the gameiest Witnessed in many years be-
tween big men.